UP Alumnus Named Dean of Cal Poly Environmental Design College

Mary Anne Alabanza Akers (Source: Cal Poly)

University of the Philippines alumnus Mary Anne Alabanza Akers was appointed dean of the College of Environmental Design at Cal Poly Pomona, becoming the first Filipino American and the first Asian American woman to lead the college (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Meet First PhD Grad of World Deaf Leadership Program

Raphael “Rafa” Vergel de Dios Domingo (Source: Goodnewspilipinas.com/Benilde SDEAS)

Raphael “Rafa” Vergel de Dios Domingo of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) has become the first Filipino scholar of the World Deaf Leadership (WDL) program to earn a doctorate degree (See Goodnewspilipinas. com for story).

Fil-Am's Short Film Wins at Sundance 2023

When YOu Left Me on That Boulevard

Kayla Abuda Galang's short film, WHEN YOU LEFT ME ON THAT BOULEVARD (13 min), has just won Short Film Grand Jury Prize at the recently-concluded Sundance Film Festival (See MoveableFest.com for story).

First Aeta to Pass Criminology Board Exam Wants to Be a Cop

Dexter Valenton and his mother Luz at Celtech College in the City of San Fernando (Source: Inquirer.net/Office of Gov. Dennis Padilla)

Dexter Santos Valenton, 23, did not only pass the recent Criminology Board Exam but he also became the first known Aeta to pass the state’s criminologist licensure test of the Professional Regulation Commission (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Alameda, California Opens Bohol Circle Immigrant Park

Local government officials and the Filipino American community gathered in this Bay Area island city Jan. 21 to officially open the Bohol Circle Immigrant Park, considered the first recreation park in the United States named after a Filipino American community organization (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Filipina Launches 'Only English-Language Asian American TV Network' in U.S.

Faith Bautista

A Filipina American-owned television network, self-described as “America’s only English language Asian American Pacific Islander entertainment TV network,” was launched Jan. 23 through Charter’s Spectrum TV Select Channel 147 in New York City, Los Angeles and 41 states (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Fil-Scottish Actor to Star in HBO Series 'Warrior'

Chelsea Muirhead (Source: IMDb)

Filipino-Scottish actor Chelsea Muirhead from Toronto finished filming her upcoming role in the highly anticipated HBO series “Warrior” in South Africa. Set in 19th-century San Francisco, “Warrior” tells the story of a Chinese American warrior who must confront the racism and prejudice of the time (See INQUIRER.net for story).

Fil-Am Writer Named San Diego Poet Laureate

Jason Magabo Perez, Ph.D. (Photo from Bulosan Center for Filipinx Studies/UC Davis)

Local Filipino American writer Jason Magabo Perez, Ph.D., was named San Diego’s Poet Laureate before his first public appearance at Mayor Todd Gloria’s 2023 State of the City Address (See INQUIRER.net for story).